Life is one BIG test…
after having done all we know to do, can we, will we wait on God?
1 Corinthians 10:13 (New King James Version)13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. |
Below is another blow by blow devotional from the pages of the Bible, sparks from the anvil of life, if you will.
This one comes from David Wilkerson, as he describes an incident where King Saul blew it, as he was facing real pressured and had a choice, either to do as God said, or to take action on his own, without God’s leave nor allowance, in direct disobedience to what God had specifically told him to do.
Does this sound familiar? Are you now, or have you in the past been faced with an eleventh hour situation, where time and hope were running thin? If so, what do you do?
Do you take action, any action, thinking something is better than nothing, or do you wait on God, after having done ALL you know to do?
Does this sound familiar?
Folks, this is setup, it’s a TEST… it’s a part of God’s emergency 911 faith in action while under pressure evaluation — where we get to find out if we have the wherewithal and guts to put our actions where our mouth is, and to wait and hang our life, our body, and our circumstances, not on what we see or feel, but totally on the promises of His Word?
There is no easy way to get through this test, except to die to yourself, and relinquish your ALL into God’s keeping and into His hands… and really that is the whole point of the test! You have to die completely to yourself!
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been there, done that, and even having the T-shirt to prove it!
Shalom,
Skip Barland
—–Original Message—–
From: DAVID WILKERSON TODAY
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 12:01 AM
To: devotions-en@lists.worldchallenge.org
Subject: ONE MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHT
ONE MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHTby David Wilkerson | July 29, 2010 We see in 1 Samuel 13 that Saul faced a crucial moment that every believer must eventually confront. It is a time of crisis when we’re forced to decide whether we’ll wait on God by faith, or get impatient and take matters into our own hands. Saul’s pivotal moment came when ominous clouds of war were gathering over Israel. The Philistines had amassed a huge army of horsemen, iron chariots and legions of soldiers brandishing the latest weapons. By contrast, the Israelites had only two swords in their entire army—one for Saul and one for his son, Jonathan. Everyone else had to use makeshift weapons, such as wooden spears or crude farm tools. A week earlier Samuel had warned Saul to wait for him at Gilgal before going into battle. The prophet had said he would arrive after seven days to make the proper sacrifices to the Lord. When the seventh day came and Samuel hadn’t arrived, Saul’s soldiers began to scatter. Worse, the king didn’t have God’s direction for battle. What approach did Saul take? Did he stand firm, declaring, “I don’t care if it takes Samuel eight days to arrive, I’m going to stand on God’s Word to me. Live or die, I will obey his command”? No—Saul panicked. He allowed himself to be overwhelmed by his circumstances. And he ended up manipulating his way around God’s Word. He ordered the priest who was present to make the sacrifices without Samuel and in so doing committed a grievous sin against the Lord (see 1 Samuel 13:11–12). No—God is never too late. All along, the Lord knew each step Samuel was taking toward Gilgal. He had set the prophet on a heavenly navigation system, pinpointing his arrival to the very second. Samuel would be there by day seven, even if it was one minute before midnight. God has not changed throughout the ages. And he is still concerned with whether his people obey this command: “Obey the voice of the Lord, and [do not] rebel against the commandment of the Lord” (1 Samuel 12:15, paraphrased). It doesn’t matter if our lives are spinning out of control—we are to walk in total confidence in the Lord. Even if things look hopeless, we are not to act in fear. Rather, we are to wait patiently on him to deliver us, as his Word promises. The fact is, God stood right beside Saul as the massive Philistine army pressed in. He knew the crisis Saul was in and his eye was on every detail. Our God sees every detail of your crisis. He sees all the life-problems pressing in on you. And he’s fully aware your situation is getting worse daily. Those who pray and wait on him with calm faith are never in any real danger. Moreover, he knows all your panicky thoughts: “I don’t see how I can ever repay this debt…I don’t have any hope for my marriage…I don’t know how I can keep my job….” Yet his command to you still holds true: “Don’t panic or get ahead of me. You are to do nothing but pray—and rely on me. I honor everyone who puts his trust in me.” Consider these words God has given to his church:
Unbelief is deadly, its consequences tragic. And we face dire consequences if we try to extricate ourselves from our trials instead of trusting God to see us through them. http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/devotions/2010/one-minute-before-midnight |
SB SALT AND LIGHT MINISTRIES 
Amen